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Fungal Mitochondria -

Mitochondria are cytoplasmic structures responsible for respiration and generation of energy in eucaryotes.

However, some yeasts, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are facultative anaerobes and can grow without mitochondria.

The mitochondria are double membrane structures and contain a quantitatively minor but functionally very important part of the cellular genetic material (m-DNA)

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The m-ribosomes are similar to that of bacteria (70 S) and mitochondrial protein synthesis can be inhibited by chloramphenicol and other antibiotics which inhibit procaryotic protein synthesis.

Although the amount of DNA is just adequate for the synthesis of 10.20 proteins, mitochondria contain nearly 200 proteins.

It is believed that these proteins include those synthesized within the mitochondria as well as those synthesized in the cytoplasm under the direction of nuclear DNA, Mitochondria are formed by division of pre existing mitochondria.